14. Chapter 14
Chapter fourteen
T hree days just wasn’t enough time to get Griffin and Black Sheep exactly where we need them to be for an overall win. Though it was enough for Griffin to make it through the first three rounds on top, only to miss out on the final battle by a few measly points. He still made it to the podium with a third place win, which had the whole team freaking out and celebrating. He even grabbed me around my waist to haul me in for photos in front of the car, making sure people knew Black Sheep is my creation.
It was pretty awesome to have his arms around me while he was high on his finish and in the best mood I’ve seen him in. He had been almost friendly to me in the days leading up to the race, taking me by surprise when he would smile and crack jokes that were only slightly sexual or insulting. It was a nice departure, but I’m still hesitant to trust this nice side of him .
Wyatt qualified for the top sixteen tandems this time around, but was knocked out of the bracket after his second race. He was over the moon to have made it into the competition, and to beat his first opponent, so we weren’t too worried about him. It was way better than the first race in Long Beach where he didn’t qualify at all. He’s becoming more comfortable driving in competition and did a great job as the chase car in both of his tandem rounds.
I was surprised to see Bliss and her boyfriend, Talan, when they stopped by the S firm and soft, hot and perfect. I open for him, allowing his tongue to slowly explore my mouth, meeting him gently with my own.
Once he knows I am on board, he gives in to the intensity fueling him, tilting my head to the side by my hair and biting my lip until I mewl in pain and pleasure. My hands fist in his hair, keeping him close even though we are already crushed together. I rise onto my tiptoes, my body sliding along his, forcing a groan from his mouth that I swallow. If I could climb him, I would. I want his lips everywhere and I want to explore the hard body against me with fingers, skin, tongue.
My entire body heats. I am on fire. No, I am fire. I’m burning and hot and crackling with energy and sensation. My pussy clenches and throbs, wanting so much more than a thigh to grind on.
Loud whistles and catcalls jar me back to reality, a few people around us encouraging our intense make-out session. I open my eyes and pull my head away quickly, my hand finding my puffy lips still wet from Griffin’s mouth. I glance around again and see we are no longer a source of entertainment, and the crowd has gone back to drinking their beers.
“Come home with me,” he commands in my ear, not letting me go from his strong arms that still pet and pull at me. His lips move toward mine again, but I shy away. If he kisses me again, I’ll abandon all resolve to keep things between us professional. Hell, I’ve already crossed the line and I need to pull back.
“You...we can’t.” I turn my head away from his hand, his fingers slipping through my hair.
“Why not? I want you and you want me.” He makes to move my face back to look at him, but I pull away out of his reach. His hand freezes then drops to his side.
“It’s not professional. I don’t want to be the slut who ends up screwing a teammate and gets told to leave when things get weird. I like my job. I want everyone to respect me.”
I desperately want another drink. I don’t think it will help my resolve any, but as liquid courage or inhibitor, I need it. I tap the bar for the nearest bartender’s attention, motioning for another shot. He quickly slides two over, and I slam one back as Griffin watches with intensity cooling the fire in his blue eyes. They’re fringed in thick black lashes that make the color stand out even more. Stop it, Shelby, you need to get your head back in the game.
“So what, you’re just a cock tease who likes getting off between two dudes?” Those incredible blue eyes are hard and shuttered, a steely light of vicious intent the only thing that animates them. I pull away as if slapped, my throat still on fire from my shot. Cold hurt wars with hot shame, but I push them both away with blazing anger.
“No, you fucking asshole, I’m not. You and Wyatt made the choice to dance with me, both tonight and last week. You kissed me. I didn’t ask for your attention and I’m not going to encourage it if this is how you’re going to treat me.” I take the shot in front of Griffin and suck it down, coughing slightly.
I need to leave, now. This got way out of hand, and it’s all my fault. Fuck! I spin on my heels and push through the crowded bar on my way to the door. I don’t want to be anywhere near Griffin after his hurtful comments. How dare he call me a cock tease? I know I’m right about not asking for their attention, but I did enjoy it and probably encouraged it more than I should have.
And why the fuck did I let him kiss me? Why did I say I wanted him to? Argh! I am so disappointed with myself, even if that was hands down the best first kiss I’ve ever experienced and my body is begging for more. Which is why I had to put up hard limits for him just now. Going any further with him than just a dance in public, as erotic and amazing as it is, and a passionate kiss that hinted at the explosive chemistry we would have together in the bedroom, would be totally and completely unprofessional. I might as well just say goodbye to my dreams of getting ahead in the racing world if I let that go further.
A hand catches my arm as I fight my way through the throng of people. I try to pull away, but they won’t let go. I look back with a snarl on my face, ready to tell Griffin he can go fuck himself, but find myself face-to-face with Wyatt. Fun, sweet Wyatt who is looking awfully concerned.
“Where you going so fast, sweet thing? Are you running away from Griff again? What did he do this time?”
I feel hot tears of shame pricking my eyes and I’d rather not cry to Wyatt about how Griffin hurt my feelings, again. Or admit how badly I want to go back, push him against the bar, and have my way with him until we both explode.
“Griffin didn’t...it’s not him. I just need to leave. Why don’t you keep celebrating with the team? I’ll see you tomorrow.” My voice breaks as I hiccup, tears beginning to blur my vision .
Wyatt sighs in exasperation and rubs the bridge of his nose beneath his glasses, settling them and looking deep into my eyes. “What do you see in him, Shelby? All he does is make you angry or cry, yet you are drawn to him like a moth to a flame. A cool grand says he’s just going to burn you, and then what?”
I stop fighting to pull away and really look at Wyatt. Though he seems concerned for my feelings, there’s more to his expression. It’s hurt, jealousy, confusion and something I can’t even peg that make up the concern.
“What are you talking about? I don’t see anything in him. He’s my teammate, like you.” I stumble over the lie to mask his all too close for comfort deductions, my lips burning with the aftermath of our kiss that lingers and calls me a big fat liar.
“God, Shelby, do you even hear yourself? Anyone can see how much you fight it, but it’s there. The lingering looks. Offering your car for him to drive instead of letting him suffer without one. The way you take his hurtful words and still manage to treat him better than you should. He gets under your skin, but you let him. Sure, he’s been nicer to you the last week, but how does that make up for him being a complete ass to you the rest of the time? And just now? Yeah, I saw that kiss.”
I look around wildly, wanting to run from the words, the emotions, and the realism that Wyatt is shoving in my face. I don’t want to acknowledge, even to myself, that I feel way more for Griffin than I should. And I don’t know why. Of course I’m attracted to him, but it’s more than that. There’s a magnetism to him, something that calls me like a siren.
I want him, all of him. The good, the hurt he makes me feel—anything he will give me, even if it’s less than I deserve. How fucked up am I ?
“What do I do?” I ask Wyatt, my palm chasing hair off my sweaty forehead in exasperation. “I don’t fucking know why I let him get to me. I don’t know whether it’s his asshole side, or the nice guy I know he is deep down that I’m attracted to. I don’t want to...feel anything for him. But I can’t stop. It’s there and it keeps coming out, no matter how locked down I think I have it. I don’t want to be that girl.”
As the words tumble from my mouth, I know I have released them to the wrong person. Wyatt’s face falls, any hope he may have had that I would completely deny wanting Griffin dashed to pieces in the wake of my admission. His lips quirk up into a smirk that doesn’t reach his eyes, but still shows off his dimples.
“Shelby, sweet thing, you’re just another podium for him to chase. You’ve made things a challenge, and he wants to win you. What happens when he does? He’ll discard you like a fucking plastic trophy that doesn’t mean shit to him.”